GRANVILLE, Ohio — Al Nennig was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the tenth inning to give Denison University a 3-2 win over Marietta College Sunday (April 3) afternoon in a non-conference baseball match up.

Denison, led by former Pioneer assistant coach Mike Deegan, improves to 10-5 on the season. The Etta Express slips to 13-8 overall.

Marietta's Tyler Nieberding and Denison's Zack Huarte went toe to toe in a classic pitcher's duel. Both starters put zeroes on the board through the first five innings.

The Etta Express drew first blood with a run in the top of the sixth inning. Tim McCoy led off with a single to right field and was sacrificed into scoring position by Joey Begany. Eric White followed with a base hit to right field scoring McCoy. White was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double.

Pioneer skipper Brian Brewer decided to turn the game over to relief ace David Stover in the bottom of the inning. Stover retired the Big Red in order carrying the shutout into the seventh inning.

In the seventh, Nennig was hit by a pitch with one out. Duncan Moran doubled sending Nennig to third. A passed ball allowed him to score Deniosn's first run of the game. Sam Frazen followed with an RBI single giving the Big Red a 2-1 lead.

Huarte was still going strong on the mound for Denison and retired the Pioneers in order in the top of the eighth. White led off the ninth with a double and was subbed out for pinch runner Alex Bower.

Following a failed sac bunt attempt, Doug Bennett was called on to pinch hit and delivered an RBI single to left field scoring Bower with the tying run. Huarte got out of the inning with by inducing a double play.

A Pioneer error allowed Denison to threaten in the bottom of the ninth. But Stover worked out of trouble sending the game into extra innings.

Adam Goldstein took over on the mound for Denison to start the tenth inning. A single, an error and an intentional walk loaded the bases with one out. Denison again went to the bullpen and brought in Ian Walsh who retired the next two Pioneers on fly balls to get out of the inning.

Freshman Jacob Baker replaced Stover on the mound for the Pioneers in the bottom of the tenth and got the first batter to ground out. Tucker Davison singled to left and then Joe LaPlaca beat out a bunt for a base hit. Jack Blanchard walked to load the bases for Nennig. With the count even at 2-2, Baker's pitch hit Nennig forcing in the winning run.

Nieberding worked five innings and gave up no runs on five hits and struck out six. Stover threw four innings and allowed two runs on four hits, while Baker (0-2) took the loss after allowing one run on two hits in 0.1 innings.

Huarte went nine innings and gave up two runs on 10 hits with nine strikeouts. Goldstein threw 0.1 innings and allowed one hit and one walk. Walsh (3-0) earned the win retiring both hitters he faced in the game.

White led the Pioneer offense going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

The Pioneers return home to host No. 17 ranked Wooster on Tuesday (April 5) for a single nine-inning game. First pitch at Don Schaly Stadium is slated for 7:00 p.m.